Anytime of year burgers are an American favorite. However, what is in your burger varies between beans, beef, pork, poultry, fish or nuts. While most people do not prefer salmon burgers, the American standard has been a hamburger made with beef.

Build A Better BurgerTo create a better burger every time many people start with the freshest ingredients. Many culinary experts recommend fresh, coarsely ground chuck or any combination of ground meats with a 20% fat content. While many nutritionists prefer leaner meat, leaner meat will produce a dry product. Seasonings that are added vary from garlic, onions to ground pepper and salt. Any seasonings that are added to ground meats should be gently blended with a fork. Over mixing or handling patties will cause the burger to be tough.

Raw meat should be handled with care. Always wash your hands, before and after handling any meat or poultry. And, anytime you have a cut or hand infection, wear plastic gloves. The best burger is thought by several chefs to be 5 inches in diameter and about ½ inch to ¾ inch thick, about the size best held by the average bun. When grilling, the USDA recommends using a food thermometer to ensure that hamburgers made of ground beef are cooked to an internal temperature of 160 °F at center. A meat thermometer is the only way to tell if meat has achieved a high enough temperature to destroy bacteria. However, the American Heart Association recommends that red meat be limited so perhaps try an alternative, like turkey burgers. Ground poultry burgers should reach 165 °F.

Burger NutritionAlternatives to hamburgers are endless. Any protein source can be formed into a patty. Eating burgers can have health benefits. For example, the protein in the fish, poultry, beef, soy or beans provides the building block for muscles, organs and bones.

Protein acts with the immune system to protect you from disease. A 3-ounce serving of beef, like a hamburger, supplies 39% of the zinc most people need in a day. Another mineral, often in short supply in the American diet, is iron. Iron is required throughout life for many biological functions. Iron helps carry oxygen to cells and tissues, make red blood cells, and maintain the immune system. When iron is in short supply, anemia can develop. Although enriched breads and cereals provide the primary sources of iron in the American diet, the iron found in beef is more easily absorbed. Since zinc and iron are both minerals in short supply, consider adding supplements to your daily diet.

Today, the question is whether the burger, whatever type, will be in a bun. Many people have been limiting carbohydrates so they omit the bun. Eating a whole grain bun is the healthiest option with plenty of vegetables to garnish your burger.

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